Rain or Redemption: Will Weather Spoil India's Comeback at The Oval?

India and England are set to face each other in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at The Oval in London, starting from July 31. With the series currently standing in favor of the hosts at 2-1, this Test match is a decider match for both teams. India will aim to level the series 2-2 after a hard-fought draw in Manchester. On the other hand, England needs a draw or a win to claim a historic series victory at home for the first time against India since 2018.

India showed great resilience in the fourth Test, coming back from a run deficit in the first innings to force a draw, and all thanks to key knocks from Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja. On the other side, England will be without their captain Ben Stokes due to injury, and Ollie Pope will lead the team in his absence.

Jasprit Bumrah is also ruled out for India, and Akash Deep is likely to replace him in the playing XI. While all are waiting for the decider thrilling contest at The Oval to follow, weather conditions in London may play a key role in deciding the outcome of this much-anticipated clash between the two.

India vs England 5th Test: Oval Weather Forecast

The IND vs ENG 5th Test weather forecast doesn't look good so far. The opening day of the match (Thursday, July 31) is likely to begin under overcast conditions with a light chance of rain and high humidity. According to AccuWeather, the temperature in London will range between 14°C and 24°C throughout the day, with around 88% humidity and winds blowing at 13km/h.

The chances of rain on Day 1 are estimated to be around 60%, especially in the afternoon. The second and third days of the Test match are expected to stay mostly cloudy, as per the Oval weather forecast. It will help seamers, but not much rain is expected during this period. However, the forecast becomes more concerning on the last two days, with intermittent showers that are likely to disrupt the match flow during the match hours.

Oval Test: 5-Day Weather Breakdown

Rain has been a frequent disruptor in Test matches between India and England especially in the UK. Over the years, several Tests in England have witnessed match disruptions due to unfavorable weather. If rain causes frequent interruptions in the ongoing Test at The Oval, the possibility of a draw will increase significantly, which would help England take the trophy with a 2-1 lead. So for India, who are chasing a series-leveling win in this match, losing even a few sessions to rain could become a major setback, making every hour of play very critical for the visitors.

Oval Test Weather a Bad News for India?

The final Test holds a significant point not just for the series but also for ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points. The Oval Test weather for the five days is not a good sign for India, who are trying to avoid their first series defeat in England since 2018 and maintain momentum moving forward in the WTC Cycle.

England, on the other hand, will be looking for a strong finish at home. If the rain becomes consistent and significant during the match days, it could lead to loss of crucial playing time, affecting the possibility of a clear result. With the series on the line, both teams will be keeping a close eye on the forecast and may adjust their gameplay accordingly.

Even the teams might try to play at a faster pace to compensate for possible rain delays later in the match. A rain-affected draw will mean India’s comeback efforts will go in vain, and England will take the series. On the other hand, if there is enough time for a full contest, expect a thrilling, hard-fought battle on the cards between these high-class teams.